With Inspecting And/or Illuminating Means Patents (Class 156/379)
  • Publication number: 20080135178
    Abstract: An hand application tool for laying a sealant spacer strip along a glass sheet for forming insulating glass units having a handle with first and second ends; a base having freely rotatable rollers connected to the first end of the handle; and a housing connected to the first end of said handle and to the base the housing having a positioning roller, at least one guide pin and a housing roller wherein the at least one guide pin and the housing roller form a guideway for deploying the adhesive strip and the housing roller provides pressure for applying the sealant spacer strip onto the glass sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: AGC Flat Glass North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Pelcarsky, Wayne Pelcarsky, Jason Ackerman
  • Patent number: 7370681
    Abstract: A substrate bonding apparatus for fabricating an LCD device aligns upper and lower stages to accurately bond first and second substrates. The distance to which the upper and lower substrates are spaced apart from each other during bonding is adjustable depending on the determined thickness of the first and second substrates. Further, sealant material disposed on a substrate may be prevented from becoming contaminated by foreign material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Seok Lee, Myoung Gu Kang, Young Kug Lim, Soo Min Kwak, Jong Han Kim, Heung Sun Kim
  • Patent number: 7343949
    Abstract: The invention concerns an installation comprising a feeding device (100, 101, 103, 104, 1, 11, 12) unwinding the support (G) and a treating device (105, 4) for operating on the parts (P). A reading unit (102) positioned on the passage (Z) of the bar codes (CB) of the parts (P), supplies signals (SL). A data source (107) contains data concerning the bar codes (CB). A control circuit (106, 5) receives the sense signals (SL) and the data signals (SD) so as to compare them and transmit control signals (SC) for the treating device (105, 4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Vandevoorde
  • Patent number: 7335272
    Abstract: After photographing a surface on which an ABS is formed, and the outer shape of a slider, the ABS and an engraved region formed within the ABS are identified from a photographed image. A reference that becomes a guide for attaching to a suspension is then computed, and a positional relationship between the reference and the outer shape of the slider is stored as association information. Next, the outer shape of the slider is measured, and measured values are compared to the association information and a reference is read out when attaching the slider to the suspension. An adhesive is discharged, from below, onto a suspension attachment surface of the slider based on the reference. The slider may then be attached to the suspension while holding the slider in a state where the ABS is positioned on an upper side of the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignees: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd., TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuaki Takanuki, Osamu Shindo, Akimasa Nakao, Satoshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7331152
    Abstract: A beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles having a beverage bottle orientation and positioning arrangement. The orientation and positioning arrangement includes the use of cameras, and an evaluation and control system. A first camera is configured and disposed to scan the external or peripheral surface of the beverage bottle over a wide area. A second camera is configured and disposed to scan the external or peripheral surface of the beverage bottle over a narrower area than the first camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: KHS Maschinen-und Anlagenbau AG
    Inventor: Herbert Menke
  • Patent number: 7332045
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically blocking and providing measurement of a lens blank during the blocking process includes an alignment station and a blocking station. The alignment station aligns a lens blank to a block for bonding that is also known as the blocking process. The blocking station includes a lens blank measurement system having sensors that automatically identify and determine measurement and alignment information about the lens, such as sag and tilt of the lens blank, during the blocking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Gerber Scientific International, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Shanbaum
  • Patent number: 7275577
    Abstract: A substrate bonding device for fabricating a liquid crystal display (LCD) device accurately aligns substrates of the LCD device while preventing the introduction of foreign material into the substrate bonding device, thereby substantially preventing the generation of defects within liquid crystal material of the LCD device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Seok Lee, Myoung Gu Kang, Young Kug Lim, Soo Min Kwak, Jong Han Kim, Heung Sun Kim
  • Patent number: 7267150
    Abstract: An instant photographic film unit includes a mask sheet having an image frame and two sheets, one of which has a photosensitive layer, laminated and bonded together, and a developing liquid container disposed in a predetermined position for supplying a developing liquid between the two sheets to produce an image. The mask sheer and the two sheets are bonded together in a predetermined laminated state, with at least one of the mask sheet and the two sheets being in the form of a continuous web. The continuous web is cut off into self-developed instant photographic film units of a predetermined length. A predetermined number of instant photographic film units are automatically stacked and placed in a film pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Shimizu, Hiroaki Tanaka, Tatsuo Shiina, Takayuki Kambara, Hisashi Kikuchi, Toru Shimizu, Hiroaki Shinohara
  • Patent number: 7252130
    Abstract: While clamped by a clamping jig 100, polarization-maintaining fiber cables 11 and 12 are automatically oriented with an orientation adjusting unit 200 and then heated by a heater 105 for curing thermoset resins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Totoku Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Nonomura, Hidetoku Iida, Atsushi Koyama
  • Patent number: 7219708
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for inspecting a film carrier tape for mounting electronic component, in which film carrier tapes for mounting electronic component provided with a plurality of electronic component mounting portions in multiple strips in a transverse direction are exactly used and which can be inspected simultaneously, so that inspection efficiency can be greatly enhanced. Furthermore, the film carrier tapes for mounting electronic component are separated into individual strips after inspection and can be taken up on individual reels without a winding shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Yamamoto, Hideaki Kaneko
  • Patent number: 7213629
    Abstract: A device for placing a ply on a substrate surface includes a vacuum manifold assembly configured for attachment to a vacuum source and a substrate seal configured to provide a substantially gas impermeable interface with the substrate surface. This device further includes a ply seal configured to provide a substantially gas impermeable interface with the ply. In this manner, vacuum applied to the vacuum manifold assembly depressurizes an area between the ply and the substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Roger J. Ledet, Arnold J. Lauder, Mathew J. Shewfelt
  • Patent number: 7156139
    Abstract: A system and method to control the head suspension assembly static attitude during the manufacturing process are disclosed. A loading fixture loads and supports a head suspension while a slider is attached. A pitch static attitude and roll static attitude (PSA/RSA) monitor takes a first measurement of the pitch static attitude and roll static attitude of the head suspension. A rotatable positioning tool holds the slider in a position relative to the head suspension for attachment and to adjust the position of the slider in response to the first measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming Gao Yao
  • Patent number: 7117912
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the operation of a heating element moving periodically along a predefined path includes first and second sensors positioned adjacent the path of the heating element. The first sensor is configured to sense the presence of the heating element proximate to the second sensor, and the second sensor is configured to sense a temperature associated with the heating element as is passes by the second sensor. A controller receives signals from the first and second sensors and performs a control function such as indicating when the temperature sensed by the second sensor fall outside a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Edgar J. Mister, Douglas R. VanTassel
  • Patent number: 7117913
    Abstract: A mounting device and a method thereof for preventing a pellet from cracking or chipping when the pellet is mounted. A mounting device comprises a first head for mounting a second pellet on a first pellet already mounted and temporarily pressure-bonding the second pellet thereto by applying a first load and a second head for pressure-bonding the second pellet, which has been temporarily pressure-bonded by the first head, to the first pellet by applying a second load higher than the first load. The second head includes a protective sheet which is moved so that the unused portion is set with respect to each pellet, a ball which is supported rollably in arbitrary directions and in contact with the second pellet through the protective sheet, a spring for applying an elastic force in the direction of the protective sheet and applying the second load to the second pellet through the protective sheet, and a drive for rolling the ball on the protective sheet in contact with the second pellet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventor: Jun Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7089983
    Abstract: A film sticking/testing equipment mainly includes a transmission mechanism, a film sticking apparatus and a test apparatus. The transmission mechanism is used for delivering at least a touch pad. The film sticking apparatus has a film release base to allow a protect film being released from a rolling belt, which temporarily adheres with the protect film. The protect film is attracted by the film sticking apparatus and adhered to the surface of the touch pad by way of vacuum suction. The testing apparatus provides a test rod traveling along a preset locus on the touch pad to take the output test value of the touch pad and input to the computer device such that the test value is compared with the preset value in the computer device to distinguish qualified touch pads from unqualified touch pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Sentelic Corporation
    Inventor: Hsing-Wu Li
  • Patent number: 7089982
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a capacitor stack for a flat capacitor includes sequentially stacking a plurality of capacitor layers on top of each other such that each one of the plurality of capacitor layers is, in turn, a top layer of the capacitor stack, and continually applying a compression force between a bottom layer of the capacitor stack and the top layer of the capacitor stack until all of the plurality of capacitor layers have been placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Gordon Barr, Paul K. Hamre
  • Patent number: 7059100
    Abstract: There is described an induction sealing device for heat sealing packaging material for producing sealed packages of pourable food product and fed in a first direction. The sealing device has induction means interacting with the packaging material by means of a pair of first active surfaces and a pair of second active surfaces interposed between the first active surfaces in the first direction; and the second active surfaces have, in the first direction, a width greater than the width of the first active surfaces at least along most of the length of the first and second active surfaces in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA
    Inventors: Andrea Babini, Gianni Fangarezzi
  • Patent number: 7044183
    Abstract: A processing apparatus for substrates that include a plurality of individual substrates having a photo-curable adhesive layer interposed therebetween, including a mounting table, an irradiating device that irradiates the substrates, and a control device that controls the deflection of the substrates (X) while the individual substrates are bonded together by photo-curing the adhesive. The control device calculates a temperature difference ?T between the temperature Th of the mounting table and the temperature Td of the substrates before curing, finds a deflection difference ?X between the deflection X of the substrates after curing and the target deflection setting value Xt, finds a temperature Tc by calculating Tc=?T?M×?X using the constant of proportionality M; and controls the temperatures of at least one of the substrates before curing and the mounting table according to the temperature Tc such that Tc=Th?Td.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Origin Electric Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takayuki Suzuki, Masahiro Nakamura, Tsuyoshi Wakahira, Hideo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7039485
    Abstract: A method generally includes electronically accessing positional data defining a defect location on a composite structure, and automatically causing a material placement machine to return to the defect location as defined by the positional data. The method can also include automatically causing the material placement machine to place or lay down material sufficient for repairing a defect at the defect location. Alternatively, the material placement machine may automatically return to a defect location, and then an operator may manually repair the defect at the defect location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Roger W. Engelbart, Michael R. Chapman, Brice A. Johnson, Kathryn A. Soucy, Reed Hannebaum, Steve Schrader
  • Patent number: 6994141
    Abstract: A process, apparatus, and system are presented for adhesive bond strength recovery in a bonded system, which may be an electronic device, such as, a magnetic drive or magnetic disk drive. The adhesive bond strength of an adhesive bonding material degrades over time and under certain ambient conditions, such as humidity. The process, apparatus, and system are designed to recover at least a portion of the initial adhesive bond strength through the application of joule heating. The adhesive bonding material, and possibly the materials bonded by the adhesive bonding material, is heated via an embedded heat source within the bonded system. The embedded heat source receives electric power from a controlled power source that selectively applies power to achieve optimum heating and adhesive bond strength recovery consistent with a characterization of the bonded system, heat source, and adhesive bonding material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Icko E. T. Iben
  • Patent number: 6976519
    Abstract: A portable curing system includes a carrying case, a controller located within the carrying case and having a microprocessor, a vacuum pump located within the case and having at least two vacuum ports for connection of vacuum lines, at least two vacuum sensor connectors for receiving leads of vacuum sensors, at least two heater connectors for receiving leads of electrical heaters, and at least two temperature sensor connectors for receiving leads of thermocouples. The controller is operably connected to the vacuum pump, the vacuum sensor connectors, the heater connectors, and the temperature sensor connectors. A touch-screen video display is mounted within the carrying case and operably connected to the controller to display information from the controller and input information to the controller. The video display is pivotable between a stowed position and a viewing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: BH Thermal, Inc.
    Inventor: Brad Bivens
  • Patent number: 6915827
    Abstract: An offset measuring mechanism and method used in a bonding apparatus, in which the object plane of a position detection camera is set on a hypothetical bonding working plane, and the image of imaging elements within the imaging plane is projected onto a bonding working plane. Furthermore, the tip end of a bonding tool is aligned with the bonding working plane. The object plane of the offset measuring camera is set on the bonding working plane, and the image on the bonding working plane is projected onto the imaging elements of the imaging plane of the offset measuring camera. The imaging elements detect the projected image of the imaging elements of the position detection camera or the image of the tip end of the bonding tool and output this data to the image position measuring part or tool position measuring section of the control block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Shinkawa
    Inventor: Manabu Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 6913056
    Abstract: A laser strikes and aseptically heats or sterilizes the end of two flexible tube ends for connection. Tube holders are pushed toward each other to bring the tube ends into contact. A weld detector checks the characteristics of the weld. A laser optics assembly may be used to change the direction of the laser and focus the laser at the tube ends. In addition, a crimping device is used to compress a single flexible tube for disconnection. The laser strikes the compressed area. The crimping device continues to pinch the area and forms a seal in the tube. The tube is separated into two tube segments, each segment has a sealed end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Frank J. Landherr, John A. Biewer, Shahid Din, David Do, Rick Gilbert, James J. Alberti, David W. Pennington, Joe Romack
  • Patent number: 6889738
    Abstract: An apparatus and method determine a size of a bonding film for bonding a bonding target having a size which varies due to temperature variation, at an environmental temperature which is different from a temperature during use. The method includes measuring an actual size of the bonding portion of the circuit electrode at the first temperature, comparing the actual size of the bonding portion with a designed size of the bonding portion at the first temperature, and determining a cutting size of the bonding material based on a comparison result and mounting the bonding material over the bonding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Yamamoto, Sakae Kobayashi, Shinzou Eguchi, Kazuhiro Murata, Kouichi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6871684
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved system for identifying defects in a composite structure by providing a light source such that defects, and in particular dark defects on a dark background and/or light defects on a light background, can be identified by capturing images of the illuminated composite structure. In particular, the improved system for identifying defects in a composite structure may provide a reflective surface, dispersion elements, and multiple and/or moveable light source(s) and/or camera(s) in order to ensure that the most accurate images of any area of the composite structure, even curved or contoured areas, are captured and processed. As a result, the system of the present invention permits the operator to quickly identify and correct defects which would otherwise create structural flaws or inconsistencies that may affect the integrity of the composite structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Roger W. Engelbart, Craig Walters
  • Patent number: 6868885
    Abstract: A manufacturing speed for a laminated member for every layer is increased to improve productivity and at the same time a small-sized manufacturing apparatus capable of being practically realized is provided. A base plate is mounted at a linear predetermined segment path in such a way that it can be reciprocated and moved up and down, each of one to a plurality of an insulating layer forming means for discharging ceramics slurry or insulating resin paste, conductive layer forming means for injecting conductive paste by an ink jet system and drying means for drying said slurry, paste are arranged side by side on the segment path, the thin film layer having a predetermined electrode pattern arranged thereon is formed on the ceramics insulating layer while the base plate reciprocates by once to several times over the segment path, and these operations are repeated to form the laminated member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: UHT Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Kakimoto, Fumiaki Matsumoto, Hisashi Yasoda, Makoto Furuta
  • Patent number: 6863104
    Abstract: An apparatus for thermally activating a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet of the type having a printable surface on one side, a heat-sensitive adhesive layer on the other side and sheet identifying information including information concerning one or more properties of the adhesive used in the adhesive layer, comprises an energizeable heating unit for heating the heat-sensitive adhesive layer to activate the same, a reading sensor for reading the sheet identifying information, and a control section for controlling energy applied to the heating unit on the basis of the sheet identifying information read by the reading sensor. The control section controls the energy applied to the heating unit by keeping the amplitude of applied voltage pulses constant and varying the pulse width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: SII P & S Inc.
    Inventors: Takanori Okayasu, Shinichi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6858083
    Abstract: For weld bonding polymeric components, a bond monitoring device is utilized to sense emissivity from a bonding site to preferably determine the temperature of the material at the surface of the bonding site, in order to provide feedback information to a current generator that controls the thermal energy that is transferred to the bonding site. The bond monitoring device preferably comprises an infrared detector or pyrometer that determines the temperature at the surface of the bonding site by sensing the infrared radiation, which information is used to control current generation. The current generation device preferably comprises a radio-frequency current generator, which RF current is controllably used to create a magnetic field within a magnetic flux concentrator. When used with an mandrel of magnetically permeable material that is positioned close to the magnetic flux concentrator, the mandrel can generate resistive heat based directly on the supply of RF current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: SciMed Lifesystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Sterud, Matthew C. Heidner, Brandon Worcester
  • Publication number: 20040261947
    Abstract: A bonding apparatus that makes correction &Dgr;X=(Xn−X) in positioning of bonding tool and substrate where the imaging center of first camera shows deviation +Xc with respect to the imaging center of second camera, and deviation +Xn occurs when bonding tool moves from height Z1 to height Z2. A target is disposed at height Z1 in a correcting position, and a correction camera is disposed beneath the target. The correction amount &Dgr;X=(Xn−Xc)=X3−(X2+X1) is determined based upon first positional deviation X1 which is the position of a chip 10d at height Z1 seen from the target, second positional deviation X2 which is the position of the target seen from the imaging center of the second camera, and third positional deviation X3 which is the position of the chip 10u at height Z2 seen from the imaging center of the first camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Shinkawa
    Inventor: Manabu Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 6823917
    Abstract: A label applicator of the type for separating labels from a continuous carrier strip and applying the labels to an object positioned at the applicator, which applicator includes a supply roll and a rewind roll configured to move the strip through the applicator, a tamp pad for applying the labels to the object, and an unwind sensor. The unwind sensor includes a supply disk positioned coaxially on the supply roll. The supply disk has a plurality of equally spaced openings therein. A sensor is configured for sensing the passing of the supply disk openings. A counter counts the openings passing the sensor. The applicator includes means for determining a level of labels remaining on the supply roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven M. Dods
  • Patent number: 6814121
    Abstract: In measuring the position of a bonding tool accurately in offset correction in a bonding apparatus, the tool is moved to approach a reference member, the tool is illuminated with a reference pattern by a laser diode, and the deviation between the reference member and tool in one horizontal direction is measured based upon the image of the reference pattern projected on the tool. A position detection camera images the tool in another horizontal direction, thus measuring the deviation of the tool and reference member. The position detection camera is moved to approach the reference member, and the deviation between the position detection camera and the reference member is measured by the position detection camera. The accurate offset amounts between the position detection camera and the tool are determined based upon these measured values and amounts of movement of the position detection camera and the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Shinkawa
    Inventors: Shigeru Hayata, Ryuichi Kyomasu, Satoshi Enokido, Toshiaki Sasano
  • Patent number: 6802352
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device and a method for bonding friction material of clutch pulley. The device and method for bonding friction material of clutch pulley can simplify bonding processes by bonding friction material to a clutch pulley of an electromagnetic clutch for a compressor with a liquid phase adhesive, and improve productivity and prevent bonding error of the friction material by automatically inspecting a coated condition of the liquid phase adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyeon Kim, Bokkyu Choi, Jongsu Kim
  • Patent number: 6799619
    Abstract: A composite material collation machine and associated method for fiber tape placement and consolidation at a relatively high rate are provided. The composite material collation machine includes a laser diode array for heating at least one fiber tape, a compaction device for pressing the fiber tape against a workpiece, an inspection system for monitoring the fiber tape, and a controller. The inspection system produces an output representative of at least one characteristic of the fiber tape, and the controller is capable of receiving the output and, based on the output, automatically altering at least one system parameter defining an operational characteristic of the composite material collation machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Scott T. Holmes, Bruce E. McIlroy, Roger W. Engelbart, Stanley A. Lawton
  • Patent number: 6792987
    Abstract: An automatic splicing apparatus for use in combination with a selected automatic labeling apparatus which uses a sensor and a splicing station through which a first web of stick-on labels passes; a second web of material from a standby roll is held in a ready position for splicing end-to-end with the first web. The first web is stopped and severed at an approximate reference line location, the second web is joined using a splice piece; wherein web feeder continues continuously with uninterrupted operation due to a loose loop located downstream of the splicer permitting splicing the first web to said second web, “on the fly”, that is without reducing the speed of the automatic labeling process during splicing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: PakTech, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Monroe
  • Patent number: 6736179
    Abstract: A lamination system comprises a first transfer means, a cutting means provided at the downstream of the first transfer means for cutting a laminate film, a second transfer means for transferring the cut laminate film, a card transfer means for transferring a card along a card transfer path that converges with the film transfer path at a point of convergence, and a thermocompression bonding means for laminating the cut laminate film with the card at the downstream of the point of convergence, in which a means for detecting a failure in cutting the laminate film is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Japan Servo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Ito, Shunichi Kawamata, Naotaka Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6722411
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus includes: a heater head for bonding a liquid crystal display and a flexible printed circuit board by thermocompression; a cylinder as a heater head driving means for driving heater head to compress the liquid crystal display and flexible printed circuit board by a prescribed load; and a control mechanism as a stretch amount controlling means for adjusting a load change per unit of time after the heater head starts compressing the flexible printed circuit board by the cylinder as well as a time at which a required load is attained to control the stretch amount of the flexible printed circuit board by thermocompression. Preferably, the mounting apparatus is provided with a mechanism which performs measurement after preliminary bonding and which performs regular bonding while controlling based on the obtained information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Sugimoto, Katsunori Nagata, Masaaki Ooga, Toshihiko Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20040055691
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for making a laminate. The method including providing a work material such as a hide, and a backing material and moving one of the work material and the backing material into engagement with one another and adhesively bonding the backing material to the work material thereby forming a laminate. The apparatus includes a first support surface for carrying a work material, a second support surface positioned adjacent the first support surface, and means for transferring the work material between the first and second support surfaces. A roll of backing material is rotatably and operably positioned relative to the first and second support surfaces so that during movement of the work material between the first and second support surfaces the backing material can be fed from the roll into engagement with a surface defined by the work material to form a laminate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: A. Bruce Plumley, Shawn Cole
  • Publication number: 20040031567
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved system for identifying defects in a composite structure by providing a light source such that defects, and in particular dark defects on a dark background and/or light defects on a light background, can be identified by capturing images of the illuminated composite structure. In particular, the improved system for identifying defects in a composite structure may provide a reflective surface, dispersion elements, and multiple and/or moveable light source(s) and/or camera(s) in order to ensure that the most accurate images of any area of the composite structure, even curved or contoured areas, are captured and processed. As a result, the system of the present invention permits the operator to quickly identify and correct defects which would otherwise create structural flaws or inconsistencies that may affect the integrity of the composite structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Roger W. Engelbart, Craig Walters
  • Publication number: 20040026006
    Abstract: A chip mounting device comprising a first recognition means (3) for recognizing a first recognition mark (5) on the upper chip-retainable head (2) side, a second recognition means (4) for recognizing a second recognition mark (6) on the lower substrate-retainable stage (1) side, a third recognition means (18) for recognizing the recognition marks (5, 6) concurrently when the first recognition mark (5) is brought close to or into contact with the second recognition mark (6), and a temperature detection means (17) attached to the first recognition means (3) or the second recognition means (4), wherein calibration is carried out based on the recognition of the recognition marks when the temperature detection means (17) detects a beyond-allowance temperature change, whereby permitting a high-accuracy, efficient calibration independently of mechanical deformation and temperature change in environmental atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Arai, Akira Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20040026005
    Abstract: Determined is a correlation value R (=I(t)/I(0)) between an intensity I(0) of monitor light at least at one specific wavelength which is detected before cure of resin RSN and I(t) of the monitor light at the specific wavelength which is thereafter detected, and the cure of the resin RSN is judged to be completed when a temporal change of the correlation value R comes to a stable state. In assembly manufacturing, light-cure resin RSN is interposed between at least two members M1 and M2. After the above described cure end point is detected, application of resin curing light to the resin RSN is stopped, and the assembly is transferred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Kazuhito Kawai, Naoki Uchiyama, Ryotaro Matui, Shinobu Ito
  • Publication number: 20040026007
    Abstract: An all-additive method for direct fabrication of nanometer-scale planar and multilayer structures utilizes the tip of a scanning probe microscope and a material reservoir. True “pick-and-place” retrieval and deposition of materials with a wide range of electrical, chemical, and mechanical properties is thereby facilitated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Brian Hubert, Joseph Jacobson, Aggelos Bletsas
  • Publication number: 20030217814
    Abstract: A sheet piece (S′) that is needed to assemble wiring harnesses (W) on a harness assembling board (A) is recognized, and a recognition signal is generated. A sheet cutting apparatus (20) then cuts a sheet (S) from a sheet roll to a specified length in accordance with the recognition signal. The cut sheet piece (S′) then is dropped onto the respective harness assembling board (A). The sheet cutting apparatus (20) has a sheet feed roller (22), pressure rollers (23) that are movable toward and away from the feed roller (22) and cutters (26) for cutting the sheet (S). The feed roller (22) is rotated and the pressure rollers (23) press the sheet (S) against the feed rollers (22) in response to the recognition signal. Thus, a specified length of the sheet (S) is fed, and the cutters (26) cut the sheet (S) into a sheet piece (S′) of the specified length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Applicant: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takayoshi Satou
  • Publication number: 20030217800
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device and a method for bonding friction material of clutch pulley. The device and method for bonding friction material of clutch pulley can simplify bonding processes by bonding friction material to a clutch pulley of an electromagnetic clutch for a compressor with a liquid phase adhesive, and improve productivity and prevent bonding error of the friction material by automatically inspecting a coated condition of the liquid phase adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Klyeon Kim, Bokkyu Choi, Jongsu Kim
  • Patent number: 6651717
    Abstract: Provided is a taping machine which enables shortening the time length for bonding to each other a Fresnel lens sheet and a lenticular lens sheet and for the inspection process as well as reducing the space occupied by apparatuses used for the both processes. The taping machine includes a table part that has placed thereon a Fresnel lens sheet and a lenticular lens sheet with the end surfaces thereof being regularly arranged and superposed over upon the other, and a tape-applying mechanism that bonds the end surfaces to each other by means of a tape. The table part has a black-colored opaque plate on which a transparent plate is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Matsumoto, Takashi Kawamura
  • Patent number: 6652686
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for registering a plurality of discrete components to a continuously moving first layer of material produces a disposable absorbent garment with improved alignment of the components on the first layer of material. The first layer has a plurality of reference marks positioned thereon. Various devices are used to compare distances between the reference marks to distances between corresponding components and synchronize a feed rate of the components to a feed rate of the first layer. After adhering the components to the first layer, the positions of the components relative to the reference marks are once again checked and, if necessary, the setpoint for the feed rate of the components is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Daniel Coenen, Robert Griffiths Brandon, Louis Maurice Chapdelaine, Scott Lee Kastman, Robert Lee Popp, Devertt DeWayne Woolwine
  • Publication number: 20030159783
    Abstract: A manufacturing speed for a laminated member for every layer is increased to improve productivity and at the same time a small-sized manufacturing apparatus capable of being practically realized is provided. A base plate is mounted at a linear predetermined segment path in such a way that it can be reciprocated and moved up and down, each of one to a plurality of an insulating layer forming means for discharging ceramics slurry or insulating resin paste, conductive layer forming means for injecting conductive paste by an ink jet system and drying means for drying said slurry, paste are arranged side by side on the segment path, the thin film layer having a predetermined electrode pattern arranged thereon is formed on the ceramics insulating layer while the base plate reciprocates by once to several times over the segment path, and these operations are repeated to form the laminated member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: UHT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masakazu Kakimoto, Fumiaki Matsumoto, Hisashi Yasoda, Makoto Furuta
  • Patent number: 6588476
    Abstract: The problem of the invention is to provide a material web, comprising a supporting web and information carriers positioned thereon, in which the supporting web is constructed as a continuous web and on which are only located faultless information carriers. According to the invention from one material web are separated at least the faulty information carriers and a uniform sequence of faultless information carriers is produced on a supporting web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: bielomatik Leuze GmbH + Co.
    Inventors: Martin Bohn, Wolfgang Scheller, Helmut Hoegenett
  • Patent number: 6581817
    Abstract: A die bonding device for installing electronic components S on a metal stem, comprising a bonding nozzle for suctioning an electronic component S and positioning the electronic component S on a component mounting face of the stem, a stem carrying head for carrying the stem, a heater section for heating the electronic component S while it is positioned on the component mounting face of the stem, and an imaging camera having a light axis L extending through the component mounting face of the stem when positioned inside the heater section, which performs reciprocating motion in the direction of the light axis L.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Nidec Tosok Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kawashima, Hiroshi Nitta, Masanori Izumi
  • Publication number: 20030084985
    Abstract: The invention is relative to a method of producing corrugated cardboard in which a corrugated [fluting] web [medium] (6b) is laminated onto a covering web (6c), gas is blown onto a longitudinal running side of a corrugated cardboard web and a separating of the corrugated web (6b) from the covering web (6c) in non-adhered areas of the corrugated cardboard web is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventor: Fahri Iren
  • Publication number: 20030006013
    Abstract: A die bonding device for installing electronic components S on a metal stem, comprising a bonding nozzle for suctioning an electronic component S and positioning the electronic component S on a component mounting face of the stem, a stem carrying head for carrying the stem, a heater section for heating the electronic component S while it is positioned on the component mounting face of the stem, and an imaging camera having a light axis L extending through the component mounting face of the stem when positioned inside the heater section, which performs reciprocating motion in the direction of the light axis L.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kawashima, Hiroshi Nitta, Masanori Izumi